do lab ranges matter? / 25 characters

[johnfromeurope]

Hello guys
if i get results 450ng/dl and the lab range is 280-800, is that any different than testing in at 450 ng/dl and lab ranges 320-1100 ?
I guess its the same but just to be sure...
and another question whats the precision of standard testing method, is that +-10ng/dl, +-20ng/dl ?

 

[Megatron28]

450 is always 450. The reason that each lab posts their own reference ranges is because that is the statistical normal distribution they are getting on their equipment.

Let's do an analogy. I have a scale that says I weigh 200 pounds lets say. I weigh myself every day and I can see my weight going up and down. You can weigh yourself on my scale and we can see how much you weigh compared to me. If enough people weigh themselves on my scale we could find out what the normal distribution is of the population using statistical methods.

Now lets say I weigh myself on your scale and it says I am 195 pounds. Do I really weigh 5 pounds less or is your equipment just calibrated differently?

Do I have a "true" weight? Of course. Let's say the most accurate scale using the agreed on standard of measure puts me at 198 pounds. Turns out both scales had some error in them.

 

[johnfromeurope]

My lab has a range 280-800 and i recently "weighed in" at 426 ng/dl at 10.08am. A year and a half ago i tested in at 417ng/dl at 9.40am and a month before that at 384ng/dl at 9.13am. Can i trust those numbers? I mean could it happen that in another lab i would test in at 500 ?
my prolactin today was 13.3, with range 4.1-18.4. Hows that?

 

[Megatron28]

Yeah, you could come in with a 500 result. Think of it in terms of the analogy I just gave you about weighing yourself. Remember the 195 vs. 200 pounds?

Prolactin looks normal.

 

[halfwit]

450 is always 450. The reason that each lab posts their own reference ranges is because that is the statistical normal distribution they are getting on their equipment.

Let's do an analogy. I have a scale that says I weigh 200 pounds lets say. I weigh myself every day and I can see my weight going up and down. You can weigh yourself on my scale and we can see how much you weigh compared to me. If enough people weigh themselves on my scale we could find out what the normal distribution is of the population using statistical methods.

Now lets say I weigh myself on your scale and it says I am 195 pounds. Do I really weigh 5 pounds less or is your equipment just calibrated differently?

Do I have a "true" weight? Of course. Let's say the most accurate scale using the agreed on standard of measure puts me at 198 pounds. Turns out both scales had some error in them.

But what if you're in an elevator going up?

Believe it or not, many reference ranges are actually information provided by insurance companies used to establish what will or won't be covered. I agree with Mega though, 450ng/dL is a very specific concentration - regardless of reference range.

 

[Megatron28]

But what if you're in an elevator going up?

Believe it or not, many reference ranges are actually information provided by insurance companies used to establish what will or won't be covered. I agree with Mega though, 450ng/dL is a very specific concentration - regardless of reference range.

Au contraire mon frere. How do you know you are going up? .

 

[halfwit]

Au contraire mon frere. How do you know you are going up? .

Because the midget at the controls says so. We all know midgets (little people) would never lie about the direction of an elevator.

 

[Megatron28]

Because the midget at the controls says so. We all know midgets (little people) would never lie about the direction of an elevator.

You're right. Everyone knows they have ultra-sensitive inner ears.

 

[johnfromeurope]

I just read this on the crossfit board

It can vary tremendously from lab to lab. I've been as low as 380 ng/DL and as high as 900. I wouldn't worry about it too much, but would definitely go in for a retest.

if thats true, why do we even test...